Oil-well-capping device.



O. T. MILLIGAN.

OIL WELL CAPPING DEVICE, APPLICATION FILED AUG.24. 1915.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

INVENTOR OLA 17 7. MILL/cw WITNESSES ATTDRNEY V miaicv.

OLIVER T. MILLIeAN, 0 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

OIL-WELL-CAPPI1\TG DEVICE.

Specification of Iletters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Application filed August 24, 1915. Serial No. 47,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER T. MILLIGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburgh, Pa, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOil-Well Capping Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for capping oil wells under a flowingpressure. No means are known to me for accomplishing this at present,other than by manual effort, and this method is a matter of extremedifliculty, which it is the object of my invention to remove.

Oil and gas wells are usually cased with steel pipe in lengths screwedtogether, this casing being started when the well has been drilled alittle way and a length of pipe added from time to time as the well isdrilled deeper.

When gas or oil is struck, it is often under great pressure, and rushesup-the casing with great force. The difficulties of screwing a nipple orvalve to the casing under these circumstances are so great that manydays are sometimes required to shut ofl' the flow, during which the oilor gas escapingis usually a total loss.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the upper end ofan oil well casing with my capping device attached in operative positionto the same. Fig. 2, is a similar elevation in a plane at a right angleto Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a sectional elevation of the nipple chuck in theplane of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4, is a plan view of the same.

The numeral 1 indicates the casing having at its upper end the usualscrewed sleeve or coupling 2. The nipple 3, is to be screwed into thesleeve 2.

This nipple 3, may be of any desired length and may have any desiredsort of fitting connected to its upper end such as a valve, T, elbow,etc.

A valve would usually be placed at the upper end of the nipple 3, thesame being left open until the nipple was screwed tight in sleeve 2, andthen closed to hold the pressure.

My improved device comprises four main parts, viz: a clamp, a nipplechuck, a stop, and a pair of adjustable rods. 7

The clamp is made in halves or split and provided with flanges 5,through which the bolts 6, pass to clamp the two halves firmly to admitthe eye bars 11. The bolts 10 are body bound or close fitting in theirholes to prevent relative endwise movement of the parts 8 and 8 The part8 has a pair of tongues 12, and the part 8 has a pair of tongues 13which fit closely outside the tongues 12.

On the inside of chuck 8 there is formed a standard pipe thread having astraight bore (no taper) to receive the thread 15, on the nipple 3.

Below the thread 14, a counterbore 16 is formed to fit loosely over theend of sleeve 2, and below the counter bore 16, a tapered bore 17 isformed to guide the nipple chuck over the end of the sleeve 2.

The eye bars 7, and 11 are connected by eye bolts 18, provided withturnbuckles 19.

Bar 20 has a stop 24, at its upper end the same being curved to fit theoutside of the nipple chuck 8. Clamps 22 are hinged to bar 20 by rivets21 and clamped to casing 1 by bolt 23. Pads 25 and 26 011 the bar 20,rest against the casing 1 and aline the bar.

My improved device is operated as follows: When gas or oil begins toflow from the well the clamp 4 is in place on the casing 1 with thenipple chuck 8 and eye bolts 18 lying over to the left in a positionsubstantially at a right angle with casing 1.

The stop bar 20 is now set in position and the clamps 22 attached bybolt 23.

The nipple 3 with whatever attached fittings it may carry is now screwedinto the nipple chuck 8, which it fits loosely. The thread 15, is longenough to extend through the chuck 8 and into the sleeve 2.

With the end of nipple 3 above the counterbore 16, the nipple 3, ni plechuck 8, and

attached parts are swung up to a vertical nipple chuck over the end ofthe sleeve 2,

the same being engaged by the counterbore 16, which centers the nipplechuck and brings the thread on the nipple into accurate alinement withthe thread 7 in the sleeve 2.

It is now only necessary to draw the nipple down to a position Where thethread will take hold and to screw the nipple home.

When this is done my complete device may be removed to be used again asrequired.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a clamp arranged to engage a well casing below thecoupling, a nipple chuck for holding a nipple to be screwed into thecoupling, and means connecting the said clamp and the nipple chuck fordrawingthe chuck down on the coupling.

2. The combination of a clamp arranged to engage a well casing below thecoupling, a nipple chuck for holding a nipple to be screwed into thecoupling, an alining device for the nipple chuck and means for drawingthe nipple chuck down on the coupling.

3. Apparatus for capping a well casing under pressure comprising a partadapted to be secured to the casing, a nipple chuck to hold a nipple tobe connected to the casing, and means connecting the first named partand this nipple chuck for bringing the nipple chuck into such relationwith the casing that the nipple is in connectible relation thereto.

4. Apparatus for capping a well casing under pressure comprising a clampto engage the casing, a nipple chuck to hold a nipple to be connected tothe casing, and means connecting the clamp and the nipple chuck to drawthe latter down on the end of the easing.

5. Apparatus for capping a well casing under pressure comprising a splitclamp adapted to be secured to the casing, a nipple chuck, and a pair ofadjustable rodsconnecting the clamp and the chuck, and an alining devicefor the nipple chuck.

6. Apparatus for capping a well casing under pressure comprising a partadapted to be secured to the casing, an internally threaded split nipplechuck, and adjustable means connecting said part and said chuck.

7. Apparatus for capping a well casing under pressure comprising a partadapted to be secured to the casing, an internally threaded nipplechuck, said chuck having an enlarged bore to fit loosely over the end ofthe casing and a tapered bore below the enlarged bore to guide theenlarged bore over the casing enchand adjustable means connecting thechuck and the first named part for drawing the chuck and its containednipple into engaging position with the casing. 7.

8. Apparatus for capping a well casing under pressure comprising a splitclamp to engage the casing, a pair of adjustable rods pivotallyconnected to said clamp, an in ternally' threaded and split nipple chuckconnected to said r ds, and an alining device for the nipple chuckremovably mounted on the casing.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

OLIVER T. MILLIGAN.

Witnesses L. MQKITRIGK, ALMA R. PHILLIPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

